Shield for safety hats



1956 M. s. CONNOR 2,728,913

SHIELD FOR SAFETY HATS Filed May 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1956 CONNOR 2,728,913

SHIELD FOR SAFETY HATS Filed May 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

M/Yfon .5. Con n or IN V EN T OR.

BY (pow Em United States Patent 2,728,913 SHIELD FOR SAFETY HATS Milton S. Connor, Lansing, Mich. Application May 8, 1953, Serial No. 353,875 7 Claims. (Cl. 2-10) This invention relates to improvements in attachments for hats, and more specifically to an improved safety shield construction for safety hats.

In industry, there are many jobs that require not only safety hats for the workers but also safety shields for the workers faces. A good example of a job which requires a safety shield is that of heaters on furnaces in drop forges and the like. When a heater working in a drop forge reaches in a furnace with tongs for steel for the forge hammers, there is a good possibility that his face will receive severe burns if it is not sufliciently protected by a suitable shield. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a suitable shield for the faces of such workers to protect them against the searing heat of the furnaces. While there have been devised various types of shields for such workers, such shields have been cumbersome and extremely heavy on-the heads of the workers.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved safety shield which may be conveniently mounted on a conventional safety hat and which is extremely light in weight so as not to encumber the worker utilizing the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved safety shield for safety hats which is simple in construction and which may be quickly and easily secured to and removed from a safety hat whereby a worker utilizing such shield may quickly and easily detach the shield when it is not needed and at the same time may wear the associated safety hat as required by regulations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved safety shield which is of an extremely simple construction and which is formed of readily obtainable materials so as to be economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an im proved safety shield for safety hats, said safety shield including a supporting plate having the general outline of a brim of the safety hat and adapted to overlie such brim, the safety shield also including a supporting frame depending from the supporting plate and being removably secured thereto, the supporting frame and an associated screen being replaceable.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout,'and in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a safety hat having mounted thereon the safety shield which is the subject of this invention, and shows the relationship of the safety shield with respect to the safety hat;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the safety shield when removed from the hat;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through the center of the safety shield and shows the construction thereof, a lower portion of the safety hat being shown in dotted lines so as to illustrate the manner in which the safety shield is removably secured thereto;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the general construction of the forward portion of the supporting plate and the manner in which a supporting frame and an associated screen is removably secured thereto; and

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Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on a reduced scale through the center of a modified form of supporting plate and shows the manner in which it is removably secured to-the brim of a hat, the lower portion only of the hat being shown in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the safety shield which is the subject of this invention, the safety shield being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The safety shield 10 includes a generally annular supporting plate 12 which has a central oval opening 14 therethrough.

As is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the supporting plate 12 is provided at the front center thereof with a depending and rearwardly directed book 16. The forward portion of the supporting plate 12 on opposite sides of the hook 16 is provided with upstanding flanges 18.

Extending across the front of the supporting plate 12 and removably secured to the flanges 18 by fasteners 20 is a supporting frame 22. The supporting frame 22 is channel-shaped in cross-section, as is best illustrated in Figure 3, and has secured therein a shield in the form of a fine mesh screen 24. In order that the supporting frame 22 and its associated screen 24 may be conveniently removed from the supporting plate 12 for replacement, the fasteners 20 are preferably of the type having split shanks that may be bent over to prevent withdrawal of the same from apertures through which they pass.

Carried by the rear portion of the supporting plate 12 in diametrically opposite relation with respect to the hook 16 is a second hook 26. The second hook 26 is pivotally secured to the upper side of the supporting plate 12 by a fastener 28 and is intended to function as a lock.

It will be seen that the safety shield 10 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 as being mounted on a safety hat which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 30. It will be understood that the safety hat 30 is of a conventional type and includes a generally annular brim 32 carried at the lower edge of a crown portion 34.

When it is desired to mount the safety shield 10 on the safety hat 30, the supporting plate 12 is positioned in overlying relation with respect to the brim 32 by passing the crown 34 through the central opening 14 of the supporting plate 12. The opening 14 is slightly larger than the crown portion so as to facilitate engagement of the hook 16 around the forward portion of the brim 32. The hook 26 which forms the lock for retaining the safety shield 10 on the safety hat 30 is then pivoted into a locked position so as to prevent movement of the safety shield 10 with respect to the safety hat 30.

It will be understood that the various portions of the safety shield 10 will be formed of light weight material which is relatively inexpensive so that the safety shield 10 will be both economical and light in weight. Inasmuch as the heaters working in a drop forge plant do not always face a furnace and since they must wear their safety hats 30 at all times, it is preferred by such workers to remove the safety shield 10 from the safety hat 30. Due to the simple construction of the safety shield 10, the same may be quickly and easily removed by pivoting the hook 26 to an inoperative position and safety shield off of the safety hat 30.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a modified form of support ing plate for safety shields, which is referred to by the reference numeral 36. The supporting plate 36, like the supporting plate 12, is annular in outline and has a central opening 38 therethrough for the reception of the crown portion 34 of a safety hat 30. However, the supporting plate 36 differs from the supporting plate 12 inasmuch as it is provided with a downwardly and outwardly sloping peripheralrim portion 40 which conforms to the generally downwardly and outwardly sloping contour of the brim 32 of an associated safety hat 30.

then merely lifting the The supporting plate 36 is provided with a depending hook 42 at the front central portion thereof, and a hook 44 pivotally secured to the rear portion of the supporting plate by a fastener 46, the hook 44 functioning as a lock in the same. manner as the hook 2 6. However, it will be noted that the hook 44 is secured to the underside of the peripheral portion 40 of the supporting plate 36. The supporting plate 36 also includes an upstanding flange portion 48 on each side of the front hook 42 for the attachment of a supporting frame 22 and its associated screen 24.

It will be understood that the supporting frame 22 and its associated screen 24 are purposely made removable from its associated supporting plate so that the same may be easily and quickly replaced. Inasmuch as the supporting plate of a safety shield is substantially supported by the associated safety hat 36, it will be seen that the only portion of the safety shield that may be damaged is the supporting frame 22 and its associated screen 24. By making these portions replaceable, it will be seen that the cost of the safety shield will be greatly reduced over a period of time.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for safety hats comprising an annular supporting plate adapted to rest on a brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the forward edge of said supporting plate, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein, said supporting plate being provided with hooks for removably securing said supporting plate to the brim of a safety hat, said hooks including downwardly directed portions adapted to engage the undersurface of the brim portion of the hat.

2. An attachment for safety hats comprising an an nular supporting plate adapted to rest on a brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the forward edge of said supporting plate, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein, said supporting plate being provided with hooks for removably securing said supporting plate to the brim of a safety hat, one of said hooks being K in the form of a lock pivotally secured to said supporting plate, said hooks including downwardly directed portions adapted to engage the undersurface of the brim portion of the hat.

3. An attachment for safety hats comprising an annular supporting plate provided with a central opening therein adapted to receive the crown portion of the hat, said supporting plate having a horizontally disposed portion adapted to rest in face to face contact with a brim portion of the hat, said plate having the outer edge thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent the outer edge of the brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the outer edge of said supporting plate at a forward portion thereof, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein and downwardly directed securing means on said supporting plate for engaging the undersurface of the brim of the safety hat.

4. An attachment for safety hats comprising an annular supporting plate provided with a central opening therein adapted to receive the crown portion of the hat, said supporting plate having a horizontally disposed portion adapted to rest in face. to face contact with a. brim portion of the hat, saidplate having the outer edge there of adapted to be positioned adjacent the outer edge of the brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the outer edge of said supporting plate at a forward portion thereof, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein, said supporting plate being provided with upstanding flanges at the forward portion of the outer edge thereof, fasteners secured to the upper edge of said frame removably securing said supporting frame to said supporting plate, said fasteners passing through the upstanding flanges of said supporting plate.

5. An attachment for safety hats comprising an annular supporting plate provided with a central opening therein adapted to receive the crown portion of the hat, said supporting plate having a horizontally disposed portion adapted to rest in face to face contact with a brim portion of the hat, said plate having the outer edge there of adapted to be positioned adjacent the outer edge of the brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the outer edge of said supporting plate at a forward portion thereof, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein, said supporting plate being provided with hooks for removably securing said supporting plate to the brim of the safety hat, said hooks having a portion thereof underlying the outer edge of said supporting plate and adapted to engage the undersurface of the brim portion of the hat.

6.. An attachment for safety hats comprising an annular supporting plate provided with a central opening therein, adapted to receive the crown portion of the hat, said supporting plate having a horizontally disposed portion adapted to rest in face to face contact with a brim portion of the hat, said plate having the outer edge thereof adapted to. be. positioned adjacent the outer edge of the brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the outer edge of said supporting plate at a forward portion thereof, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein, said supporting plate being provided with hooks for removably securing said supporting plate to the brim of the safety hat, said hooks having a portion thereof underlying the outer edge of said supporting plate and adapted to engage the undersurface of the brim portion of the hat, one of said hooks being in the form of a lock pivotally secured to said supporting plate at the rear thereof.

7. An attachment for safety hats comprising an annular supporting plate provided with a central opening therein adapted to. receive the crown portion of the hat, said supporting plate having a horizontally disposed portion adapted to rest in face to face contact with a brim portion of thehat, said plate having the outer edge thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent the outer edge of the brim portion of the hat, a supporting frame detachably secured to the outer edge of said supporting plate at a forward portion thereof, said supporting frame depending from said supporting plate and having a shield mounted therein, said supporting plate being provided with hooks for removably securing said supporting plate to the brim of the safety hat, said hooks having a portion thereof underlying the outer edge of said supporting plate and adapted to engage the undersurface of the brim portion of the hat, one of said hooks being in the form of a lock pivotally secured, to said supporting plate at the rear thereof, the other of said hooks comprising a rearwardly and downwardly extending tab fixedly secured to the forward edge of said supporting plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,222,995 Rhoades Apr. 17, l9l7 1,802,262 Mahler Apr. 21, 1931 2,421,427 Mamlin et al June 3, 1947 

